Hydraulic telescopic fire-escape.



Ratenten'nar; 26, 19m. Y

w. H. SLIGER. l HYDRAULIC TELESCDPIC' FIRE ESCAPE; (Application med Aug. 1, '1900.

2 Sheets-Sheetfz.

(N0 Model.)

Numb" f UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.'

WILLIAM H. SLIGER, OF MCMINNVILLE, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL A. MANNING, OF SAME PLACE.

HYDRAULIC TELESCOPIC FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,548, dated March 26, 1901.

Application led August 1, 1900. Serial No. 25.583. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SLIGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mc- Minnville, in the county of Yamhill and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful' Hydraulic Telescopic Fire-Escape, 4of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto a hydraulic tower and extension-ladder, and aims to provide a lo portable structure which can be extended by hydraulic pressure and utilized as a fire-escape or hose-tower and for raising weights.

One object of the invention is the provision of a structure which will be bracingly supi 5 ported from all sides and which can be weighted when in use to prevent its toppling over by water derived from the same source' as that for extending the sections of the tower, to provide a univeral support for the tower 2o to tilt upon in any direction and positive means for adjusting the same to plumb the tower when extended in any direction, and, lastly, to provide a structure which will be simple and efcient for the purposes designed z 5 and which can be readily extended and lowered when required in a comparatively short space of time.

Another object of the invention is to enable the tank or base to be lled for weighting the 3o structure without affecting the pressure of the waterV in the sections, so that the water may be supplied to the tank before or after the tower is raised.

Other objects and advantages will appear .from the following description and the subjoined claims when taken in connection with the drawings hereto attached, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of `a structure embodying the invention, showing the tower 4o extended, as also the ladders, the tower or pipe sections, the base, and the supply and drain pipes being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing the tower lowered and the iiexible ladders reeled. Fig. 8 is a top planview of the lower platform.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the iigures of the drawings. 5o The truck 1 may be of any desired construction and is adapted to support the imis at rest.

proved structure and is provided at a central point with a s'emispherical bearing 2, firmly attached thereto and forming the lower member of a ball-and-socket bearing provided to sustain the structure. A socket 3 forms the opposite member of the universal bearing and is adapted to move upon the convex bearing 2 and is attachedto the lower side of a base or platform 4., which supports the operating 6o parts of the invention. The platform 4 may be of any desired formation and is provided at each corner with an adj ustingscrew 5, by means of which itis properly adj usted to level the same and bring the tower in a perpendicular position, and these adjusting-screws 3 operate in conjunction with" internally-threaded plates 5a, securely bolted to the platform, whereby the fdesired result is attained. The lower ends of 7o .the screws 5 obtain a purchase in seats provided in the upper side of the truck-bed and serve to prevent lateral displacement of the platform 4., and these adj usting-screws 5 are adapted to be rotated in any convenient manner and, as shown, are provided with upwardly-extending handles 5h, located at the opposite ends of a cross-head provided at the upper end of each adjusting-screw.

The tower comprises a series of telescopic 8o sections, the lower section 12 being provided with an outwardly-extending iiange,which is I bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the platform 4, and this section 12 has an inner an. nular shoulder 13 a short distance above its v85 lower end to -form a rest for the lower end of the Iirst movable section 16 when the latter A similar inner annular shoulder 14. is located near the upper end of the section 12 and is adapted to limit the upward 9o movement of the section 16 by engagement with an annular shoulder 17 at the lower end of the said section 16. A packing-gland 15 is adapted to screw into the upper threaded end of the section r12 and confine a packing 95 `between its lower end. and the said shoulder 14. to provide a water-tight joint between the sections 124 and 16.

The r'st movable section 16 is provided with an inner annular shoulder 2O in proxiroo mate relation to its lower end to provide a support and rest for the second movable secto engage with the lower lianged end of the and 21.

section 21 and limits the upper movement of the latter and at the same time forms a support for a packing which is confined between the said shoulder 1S and and a packinggland 19, screwed into the upper end of the section 16.

The section 21 is similar in construction to the section 1G and has an annular shoulder 32 near its lower end to form a support for the third movable section 25 when the latter isatits lowest position. The said section 2l is provided near its upper end with an inner aunular shoulder 23 to engage with the lower ianged end of the section 25 and limit the upward movement of the same, and a gland 24, screwing into the upper end of the section 21, confines a packing between its lower end and the shoulder 23, whereby a watertight joint is secured between the sections 25 A platform 28 is mounted upon the top end of the section 25 and is braced by brackets 27, secured to the side of the section 25 and bearing at their upper ends against the lower side of the platform 28. A circular railing 30 is located at a proper distance above the platform 28 and has attachment therewith by means of rods or bars 31, which are firmly secured at their respective ends to the platform and railing. The railing 30, together with the bars 31, forms a guard and inclosure in which a person can stand without fear of being thrown from the tower when the latter is extended by means of any sudden lurch or movement of the same. A bar 29 is secured to the platform 28 and extends laterally in opposite directions and curves upwardly a-ud inwardly and is attached at its ends to the railing 30, and this bar forms a support for the upper ends of four flexible ladders 32, which are attached thereto, said ladders being adapted to be wound upon reels 33, mounted upon a lower platform 35, l0- cated near the upper end of the lower section 12.

The lower platform 35 is surmounted by a railing 36, which has attachment therewith by rods or braces 37 and is designed to form a support for the persons operating the reels and for other objects. rIhere will be four reels 33, and these are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the platform 35, and each is journaled at its outer end in a standard 38, projecting vertically from lthe platform 35, and obtains a bearing at its inner end in a suitable support provided on the side of a hollow hase or tank 6. It will be understood that there will be four standards 33, one for the outer end of each reel, and that the same will be constructed at their upper ends to provide beari ng for the reel-shafts. The reels are adapted to be rotated in any convenient manner and, as shown, are provided with cranks 34, applied to the outer ends of their shafts for this purpose, and said reels are held from unwinding by means of a ratchetand-pawl connection 30 of ordinary construction provided between the reel`shafts and their supporting-standards 33. Y

The hollow base or tank Gis conically shaped andV encircles the lower section l2 and is formed at its upper end with an outwardlyextending flange 41, which is b olted to a corresponding liange 40, firmly attached to the upper portion of the tower-section 12, and by this means a positive and firm attachment is had between the base or tank 6 and the section 12. This tank or baseis firmly attached to the platform L and its sloping sides form a series of braces to strengthen and stay the tower from all directions and prevent undue strain upon the fastenings between the section 12 and the platform et'. In the operation of the invention this base or tank is to be filled with water, thereby weighting the structure and providing a counterbalance, which will give stability thereto. A pipe" 9,'communicating with a main pipe 7, is connected with the hase or tank to supply the latter with water and has a controlling-valve 9, by means of which the supply of water to the tank or base is shut oft when the same has been filled or when it is not required to supply the said tank or base with water. A drain-pipe 11 communicates with the lower portion of the base or tank and is adapted to draw off the water contained therein when the device is not in use, and this drain-pipe is provided with a valve to close the same to prevent the escape of the water from the tank when the latter is filled and performing the function of' counterbalancing the tower.

The main pipe '7 communicates with the lower portion of' the tower-section 12 at a point below the annular shoulder 13 and is provided with a valve 4-2 for controlling the supply of water to the tower and to the base or tank 6n A branch pipe 8, provided with an independent valve, has connection with the main pipe 7 and is adapted to havea line of hose-pipe attached thereto for use in an emergency, and this branch pipe 3 is located exterior to the valve 4:2, so as to be in communication with the main pipe at all times. The main pipe 7 is adapted to have connection with a suitable source 0f water-supply, which in cities may be the servicepipe, or an engine may be provided to pump water from a pond or cistern and force the same into the section 12 with sufficient force to extend the several sections comprising the tower, as will be readily understood.

A drain-pipe 10 has communication with the main pipe 7 at a point between the valve 42 and the tank or base 6 and is provided with a valve 43, by means of which it can be opened or closed, according as it is required to provide for the escape of the water from the tower-section or shut off such escape. It will IOO IIO

IZO

be seen that the drain-pipe 10 may be used for drawing the-water from the upper portion of the base or tank 6 by opening thepvalves 43 and 9a.

In order to enable the conical tank or base 6 to be lled when the sections of the tower are raised, the` main pipe 7 is provided at a point between the said base or tank 6 and the pipes 9 and l0 with a valve or cutoff 7c, andI when this valve or cut-off is closed it will prevent any of the pressure of the water within the telescopic section from being communicated to the contents of the base or tank or the other pipes. By this construction the tower may be held in an elevated position while the base or tank is being filled or emptied.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the same pipe 7 is utilized to supply water for extending the telescopic tower-sections, for filling the base or tank 6, and for supplying a stream of water to a line of hose-pipe, thereby providing a simple and compact arrangement of parts. The flexible ladders 32 perform the double ofce of providing means for reaching the upper platform 28 and for bracing and strengthening the tower when extended, and these ladders are tightened by turning the reels 33 until a sufficient tension has been obtained thereon, said reels being prevented from turning to unwind the ladders 32 by reason of the ratchet-and-pawl connections 39, previously referred to.

The precise disposition of the parts herein set forth is not essential to the essence of the invention, and it must be understood that in adapting the same to ll various needs changes in the form, proportion,and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sac-l rificing any of the advantages of this invention. The lower platform 35 is reached from the platform Li by means of a ladder 39n or in any convenient manner, and this ladder 39 is secured at its upper end to the platform 35 and at its lowerl end to the platform 4.

It must be understood that the tower may comprise as many sections as necessary to reach the desired altitude, and the sections may be of any required length, and those comprised between the topmost and lowermost sections will be of similar construction and of graduated sizes, so as to telescope the one with the other, as willv be readily understood.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. The combination of a series of telescopic sections arranged vertically to form a tower, a hollow base or tank surrounding the lower 2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hydraulic tower comprising a vertical series of telescopic sections, the tapering hollow tank receiving the lower section of the hydraulic tower and extending upward from the'bottom of the tower to the upper portion of the said section, and means for supplying the tower and the tank with water, said tank forming a tapering weighted base when filled and adapted to prevent the tower from capsizing, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a tower comprising a series of telescopic sections, a hollow base or tank, constructed to strengthen and brace the said tower, 'a main pipe for supplying water to the tower for extending its sections, a branch pipe affording communication between the main pipe and the said base, and provided with a controlling-valve,and a drain,- pipe communicating with the main pipe to draw the water from the tower and base separately and independently, or jointly, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hydraulic tower composed 'of telescopic sections, a hollow base surrounding the lower section of the-tower and adapted to be filled with water to prevent the tower from capsizing and forming a brace for the same, a main pipe for supply' ing water to the apparatus connected with the tower for extending its sections, a branch pipe extending from the main pipe to the hollow base, and valves mounted on the said pipes and enabling the tower and the base to be simultaneously filled and adapted to permit either to be cut out, substantially as described.

5. A hydraulic iireescape comprising a truck, a platform mounted upon the truck, and adapted to rock upon a ball-and-socket bearing, adj listing-screws located at the four Acorners of the platform and adapted to level the same and plu mb the tower, a tower mounted upon the platform and comprising a series of telescopic sections, a hollow base or tank of conical form secured upon the platform and having its upper end firmly attached to the lowermost section of the tower, a supply-pipe communicating with the lowermost tower-section and with the tank, or hollow base, and having a drain-pipe communieating therewith and provided with a regulating-Valve, upper and lower platforms and flexible ladders for bracing the upper plat- IOO IIS

form and the structure, when extended, and

adapted to be wound upon reels, substantially asr described for the purposes set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. SLIGER. Witnesses:

C. W. TALMAGE, CHAs. J. SAFE. 

